Eastwood Middle School named one of Texas' Schools to Watch

Eastwood Middle School teacher Rubina Flores-Jurado instructed math students Alexis Jurado and Kimberly Williams Friday. The middle school was selected as one of 29 other middle schools across the state by the Texas Middle School Association for the Texas Schools to Watch award, which is part of the National Forum to accelerate Middle-Grades Reform. It is the only school from the El Paso area to receive this recognition. (VICTOR CALZADA — EL PASO TIMES)

Technology use and innovative teaching methods have made Eastwood Middle School one of the top schools to watch in the state.

The Ysleta Independent School District middle school was selected as one of 29 other middle schools across the state by the Texas Middle School Association for the Texas Schools to Watch award, which is part of the National Forum to accelerate Middle-Grades Reform.

It is the only school from the El Paso area to receive this recognition, said Missy Seward, director of the Texas Schools to Watch.

This is the second time the middle school was awarded this recognition. In 2010, the first time the state participated in the middle school reform program, Eastwood Middle School was recognized — which is not a small feat, Seward said.

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"It is a lengthy, time-consuming process including an application process and a visitation from a site selection team," Seward said. "Not every school who applies will get a site visit. To become a Texas School to Watch, campuses must meet strict criteria."

The criteria includes student test scores, teaching methods, meeting the needs of the students, and an appreciation for the student's and other cultures. If a school is selected they get to keep the title as a Texas School to Watch for three years.

The school has been recognized by the Texas Education Agency for meeting AYP standards from 2009 to 2011.

This year, the average passing rate for 7th and 8th graders at the middle school was 89 percent for Math and 78 percent for writing on the state mandated test, or State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness.

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Malinda Villalobos, principal for the middle school, attributed their success to changes in curriculum, and a new teaching method the school has taken part in which makes courses and teachers available online.

"The teachers will have their lessons already pre-loaded online," Villalobos said. "So if the students need to go back to it, whether they didn't quite understand it in class or were absent, they can get it online and ask the teacher questions."

The immediate access to their teacher allows the students to understand the homework better and has improved scores overall, Villalobos said.

In addition, teachers at the school may have the students work in small groups.

Math teacher, Rubina Flores-Jurado, has her children work in four different groups, for 20 minutes a piece. While in each group, the students cover different areas of the lesson by making foldable shapes, reviewing the lesson, doing math problems or taking a quiz.

The use of online technology and allowing the students to interact with one another in groups has helped, she said.

"Before I was having a lot of problems with kids not turning in their assignments," Flores-Jurado said. "But now, with the groups, I have them do the most difficult work in the classroom and if they have questions they can ask me online and I respond back right away."

As a result, Flores-Jurado said more students are turning in their work because they understand it, and class scores have increased.

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